We highlight the recent progress in ultrafast dynamic microscopy that combines ultrafast optical spectroscopy with microscopy approaches, focusing on the application transient absorption microscopy (TAM) to directly image energy and charge transport in solar energy harvesting and conversion systems. We discuss the principles, instrumentation, and resolutions of TAM. The simultaneous spatial, temporal, and excited-state-specific resolutions of TAM unraveled exciton and charge transport mechanisms that were previously obscured in conventional ultrafast spectroscopy measurements for systems such as organic solar cells, hybrid perovskite thin films, and molecular aggregates. We also discuss future directions to improve resolutions and to develop other ultrafast imaging contrasts beyond transient absorption.
Keywords: charge mobility; exciton diffusion; interfacial charge transfer; pump–probe microscopy; solar cells; ultrafast imaging.